PLANNING YOUR GETAWAY
CHOOSE your travel agent well. Only book if they allow you to speak to the same person throughout. Many insist you call their admin department if you have questions or want to make changes.
THE 'sweet spot' for air fares is usually six to 12 weeks before departure unless it's around a public or school holiday when it's advisable to book as far in advance as possible.
MID-WEEK flights (Tuesday and Wednesday) are almost always the best value.
HOTEL pricing teams meet on a Monday to see what sold over the weekend. They then update their prices from Tuesday morning which is a good time to look for offers.
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NEVER assume a package holiday is cheaper than a tailor-made trip.
BOOK hotels and car hire when you book your flights to get better deals and a raft of financial protection.
COUPLES booking an aisle and a window seat have a good chance of having a free empty seat between them. If anyone else does end up in the middle they'll usually be happy to swap to the aisle or window.
THINK twice about paying for extra leg room on a plane. You'll find yourself sitting alongside big people, so while you might gain space in front of you, it's likely you'll be encroached on from either side.
BEWARE bassinets. Look at seat plans to see where the babies baskets are and keep your distance. Unless they're yours.
FOR less turbulence, pick a seat by the wing.
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BEFORE YOU GO
DOWNLOAD the DialAFlight app for all the details of your trip. It's updated as you travel, shows the weather at your destination, has a handy currency calculator and Google Translate.
TAG hand baggage. And put your mobile number clearly inside the tag.
PACK essentials for day two of your holiday (underwear, swimsuit, toothbrush, fresh clothes) in your hand luggage, just in case your suitcase doesn't reach your destination at the same time as you.
IF travelling with hand luggage only, pre-pack toiletries in a durable see-through wash bag (Boots sell these) to avoid the hassle at security of cramming items into flimsy bags.
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WRITE your name, phone number and flight details on a piece of paper and place this inside your case on the top. If your bag tag is separated from the case it will be opened and they'll find your details.
CROSS pack your suitcases. Mix essential clothes in different bags in case one of the bags is delayed.
ADD 'fragile' stickers to your checked bag. It should help it get to the carousel quicker.
PUT Apple AirTags or Tile trackers inside your suitcases. They won't guarantee your bags arrive at the same airport as you but knowing where they are will reduce your stress levels if they go missing.
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UNLESS you really love wearing a smart jacket or dress, don't bother cramming them into your case. Even the poshest restaurants no longer have dress codes.
NEVER pack more than three pairs of shoes - trainers, sandals and smart. These can be successfully rotated for the duration of most holidays.
PACKING cubes could change your life if you will be living out of a suitcase.
HAVE a small bottle of your preferred air freshener or pillow spray with you - they are useful for stale hotel rooms and (especially) hire cars.
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TAKE along a Cabeau Evolution neck pillow, which, unlike other travel pillows, actually facilitates sleep, thanks to its ability to strap to the seat.
SAVE space with hand luggage-size multi-purpose products such as Green People Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent.
WRITE out a comprehensive 'What To Take' list. Keep it with your passport and never again will you forget to take an adaptor, spare socks, etc.
POP a slimline book in a jacket, coat or backpack pocket, that way you'll always have something to read to pass the time while queuing at the airport, waiting for a bus, or at the train station.
JUST in case your passport gets lost or stolen take a picture on your phone and email it to yourself.
TELL someone at home what your policy number is and who your travel insurance is with. If the worst happens, they can then kickstart a claim while you're away.
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AT THE AIRPORT
USE a meet-and-greet car parking service if you can. The price difference, particularly if booked well in advance, is often minimal. But make a note of mileage before handing over the keys.
ASK about twilight check-in if you're staying in an airport hotel for an early flight. Hand over your main bags the night before and you can go straight to security in the morning.
IF connecting with another flight check if your bags are being sent all the way through to your final destination. And watch like a hawk to make sure stickers are applied properly by the check-in staff. Keep the ticket stubs safe.
GO to the left-hand queue at security; most people head right, as they are biased toward their dominant hand.
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NEVER be rude to check-in staff at foreign airports. The same staff often reappear at the gate and can get their revenge by saying your hand baggage is too big to go on board for free.
HYDRATE your skin in the Duty Free area with the help of all the beauty samples. The posher and more expensive the better.
WASH or sanitise your hands straight after security. Doctors say the trays that go through x-ray machines are constantly touched, rarely cleaned and a perfect breeding ground for bugs.
TAKE extra items into the cabin in an airport shopping bag. Staff will think it contains things you bought after security.
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NEVER get currency at the airport; rates are ruinous.
IF YOU have an evening flight from a London airport and are hungry, check the sandwich fridge at Boots. Many sandwiches are slashed to £1 or 50p after 7pm.
WHEN boarding requires a shuttle bus transfer to the aircraft, get on last. You'll avoid spending 20 minutes or so on an often cold bus.
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WHEN YOU FLY
GET on the plane last. You can scope out any free seats and potentially bag an empty row to yourself.
ADJUST your watch at take-off to the time zone of your holiday destination. If you eat only when it's a mealtime at your destination this will help reduce jet lag.
ALWAYS be friendly and polite to cabin crew. This often results in perks such as free-flowing wine and extra snacks.
TAKE noise-cancelling headphones. Not only for a better sound, but they blot out engine noise. Don't forget you're wearing them when you talk or you'll be 'that person' who shouts.
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ORDER the veggie meal in advance on long-haul flights. It will be more freshly heated and you'll get it first.
LAYER up. Air crew say it's impossible to pick a temperature that suits everyone. Happy flyers have hoodies, cardies or overshirts.
CHOCOLATE and chilli can also help reduce the effects of jet lag.
AVOID wearing any kind of tight clothing when flying; your body swells and retains water.
ON YOUR outward journey, wear that shirt or blouse you were thinking of throwing out. Bin it when you get to the hotel - one less thing to bring back.
WEAR shoes to the loo or you'll spend the rest of the flight wondering if the wet patch on your sock is really water
FOR longhaul flights with young children, create a bedtime routine by taking PJs to change into and a favourite blanket to snuggle under.
ONCE YOU'RE THERE
FIND out before you land what the average price of a taxi from the airport should be, so you can avoid getting taken for a ride.
LEARN the absolute basic local lingo: Even the most modest of efforts goes a long way. 'Hello', 'Goodbye', 'Please', 'Thank you'. And, of course, "Sorry, I'm British."
VISIT all the busy tourist sights at lunchtime, they'll be quieter.
SEND one of your party on ahead to get in the car hire queue while waiting for the luggage. All drivers will have to sign the rental agreement. And remember to check that any damage is listed.
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ALWAYS pay for things in local currency when using debit or credit cards.
DO YOUR souvenir shopping in local supermarkets. They are much cheaper than the tourist shops and often it's the same goods on sale.
REMEMBER that if you ever have time to kill, are bored, or alone, a massage is an almost universally available and self-indulgent way to spend an hour.
EVEN if you don't follow football, pretend to support one of the top teams. It's the easiest way to make friends with barmen and taxi drivers anywhere in the world.
READ a book on holiday that you don't expect to read again and leave it in the hotel.
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DITCH your usual credit or debit card when travelling abroad in favour of a Starling card to avoid exchange fees and charges.
ASK your friends and friends-of-friends if they know anyone at your destination who could show you around for a couple of hours. Many are happy to oblige.
ALWAYS look for restaurants that are popular with locals.
PACK your best self - always travel with a ready smile, good manners and patience. A gracious and happy tourist will get more from a trip than a grumpy, demanding one.
CHECK cultural listings at your destination to find out what gigs, festivals and club nights are on that week, and party with the locals.
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AT THE HOTEL
ALWAYS ask for a quiet room and one with a bath - it might lead to an upgrade.
REMEMBER to remove your passport and your valuables from the hotel safe by putting one of your travelling shoes in it the night before.
BOOK a stay for a Sunday night to get the best deal.
ALWAYS use your credit card for the hotel's cautionary deposit. If it's a debit card, the 'held' amount is automatically deducted and you may have to wait days to be reimbursed after check-out.
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IF YOU don't have unlimited international roaming, write down the name and address of your hotel in advance to avoid being caught out without the internet.
Pilots and air crew sometimes use hotel irons to reheat their pizzas and other food during layovers. So check out they are clean before pressing a crisp white shirt.
Steaming clothes can be fairly easy while getting ready for the day. Place garments on the towel rack or behind the bathroom door while you shower to loosen up any wrinkles.
ASK your hotel for a card with their name and address. You can show it to taxi drivers or use it to ask for directions if you get lost.
CRUISE CONTROL
TAKE a washing line, preferably one that doesn't require pegs. They cost less than a fiver and are ideal for drying clothes on your cabin balcony.
ORGANISE your own excursions. It's always cheaper (sometimes by as much as 75 per cent) to book exactly the same thing independently. It might take a little pre-travel online research, but the savings will be worth it.
AVOID cruises that try to cram in too many destinations - less is more.
SPAS are quiet on port days, so look out for any deals. Grab an early or late offer so you can still go ashore.
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TAKE part in any quizzes on offer as they are a great way to meet people.
EXPECT to put on roughly a pound a day - cruises are notoriously hard on the waistline.
UNDER no circumstances wear a yachting cap to 'look the part'.
UNLESS you drink from dawn to dusk, the drinks packages are not always worth it so check out 'buy as you go'. And remember that everyone in your cabin has to be on the same package.
IF YOU do opt for a drinks package, be sure to book it well ahead of sailing. They are cheaper if bought weeks (or even months) prior to departure.
INVEST in some towel pegs - it can get blowy at sea and pegs come in handy for attaching towels to sun loungers.
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IF YOU'RE prone to sea sickness, book a cabin in the centre of the ship as you tend to feel more movement at the ends than in the middle.
SAVE on soft drinks bills by using the dispensers in the buffet restaurants.
CHOOSE a repositioning voyage when ships relocate from one part of the world to another (e.g. Europe to the Caribbean) as prices can be as much as 50 per cent lower.
FANCY a free tipple while on board? Go to the art auctions or captain's cocktails where there's normally a drink on the house.
BOOK a hotel near your departure port the night before you sail to avoid the stress of possible flight and traffic delays.
NOT all travel insurance covers cruises, so check that yours is valid.
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AVOID cabins near the lifts, above the theatre or nightclub and below the running track as they can be noisy. If travelling with children, a cabin near the kids' zones will make life easier.
MOST ships have a launderette (no charge on many ships) so you can go home with a case of clean clothes.
DON'T pay for excursions in cities such as Barcelona, Lisbon and Oslo (or Cologne and Avignon if river-cruising) as you can walk to the main attractions. Pre-book entry to galleries and museums online.
USING the stairs is almost always quicker than waiting for the lift on a cruise ship. And with so much good food, every bit of exercise helps.
FOLLOW THE RULES
SWEARING in public is a punishable offence in parts of Australia, including Sydney and can result in a fine of up to £342
ON islands in the Maldives where locals live, bikinis are banned. Police can take action for indecent exposure against anyone not following this rule, although some islands have designated 'bikini beaches' especially for tourists.
THE picturesque Italian fishing village of Portofino has introduced two no waiting zones which apply during high season to prevent tourists 'lingering' to take pictures.
TOURISTS heading to Kenya should avoid bringing plastic bags into the country or risk facing a hefty fine or even prison. The use and sale of plastic bags is against the law.
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IN the Croatian city of Dubrovnik tourists are asked not to wheel their suitcases through the old quarter. You are required to carry them by the handles to prevent noise.
LAST year Malaga cracked down on crude party antics, banning nudity and 'erotic items in public', such as inflatable sex dolls - a warning to those heading to the Spanish city for a stag or hen party.
THE minimum drinking age in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Emirates is 21. Many restaurants will refuse entry to anyone below this age.
KEEP off the beach. Step on to the sand in Benidorm between midnight and 7am and you'll be fined between £650 and £1000.
LEAVE your 'camo' gear at home. It's illegal to wear anything with a camouflage pattern in 21 countries including Barbados, Antigua, Jamaica and St Lucia.
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TAKE THE BEST ADVICE...
READ Trustpilot carefully. Many travel agents ask for reviews when you have just booked and are happy. Few are brave enough to ask for comments on your return.
YOU can't beat first hand experience. Our experts have travelled all over the world and they'll happily share their insights and knowledge.
ASK what happens if you have a problem or emergency abroad? Most travel firms use a contract call centre. DialAFlight has its own worldwide 24 hour team just a phone call away if you need help.
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AND REMEMBER. Your calls are always answered within 5 rings. If you can't get through easily when you're at home what happens when you're overseas?
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NOTE: Our travel teams have a combined 3090 years of travel experience between them. Their helpful hints are from first hand experience and based on an article which originally appeared in the Daily Mail.
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